Folding chair



F. SIMMONS May 21, 1929.

FOLDING, can:

if Filed Nov.

Run Simmons WITNESSES a ATTORNEY Patented M521, 1929.

UNITED STATES- 1,114,323 PATENT OFFICE.

FINN SIMMONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'I'O NO- I'OLD FURNITURE COMPANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLI- NOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed. November This invention relates to folding furniture and has particular reference to an improvement in folding chairs.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a folding chair, the elements of which when folded nest compactly within each other so as to occupy a minimum amount of space for storage or transportation.

The invention further comprehends a folding chair, the elements of which are so correlated as to fold and nest within each other to produce an article of minimum length from a chair of maximum size when set up.

More specifically the invention compre bends in a folding chair, a back frame element with which a seat and supporting legs are foldably connected in such a manner as to lie wholly within the confines of the back frame element and which chair is so constructed as to offer maximum rigidity when in a set-up condition.

The invention further contemplates a seat frame and seat structure, the construction of which elements is such as to greatly facilitate their assembly and this without employing additional securing a means other than their interfitted relation.

The invention further resides in the provision of a novel leg structure and bracing means therefor, together with seat and back frames having connection respectively therewith.

The invention furthermore embodies the features of simplicity of construction, economy of production and efliciency of function.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference ishad to the following description and accompanying drawings in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the appended claims define the actual scope of the invention.

In the drawingsa Fi re 1 is a side view of a folding chair constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same in set-up condition;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front view on an enlarged scale of the chair in folded condition;

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view therethrough 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,945.

taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional perspective view of the seat frame and seat;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the seat frame and seat;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the chair supporting and bracing connection between the leg and back frame elements.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the chair includes a back frame element 10 of substantially invented U shaped configuration of angle construction in crosssection, presenting rear inwardly extending flanges l1 and side forwardly extending flanges 12. A seat frame 13 of U- shaped configuration and of cross-sectional angular construction having upper inwardly extending flanges 14 and depending side flanges 15, is provided. The free rear ends of the depending side flanges 15 of the seat frame are disposed within the side flanges 12 of the back frame and pivotally connected by pivots l6 thereto, whereby the seat frame is pivotally connected for upward folding movement to a nested position Within the back frame 10. A pair of front and rear legs 17 and 18 are pivoted on alined pivots 19 to the depending side flanges of the seat frame 13 within the side flanges. The rear legs 18 are of greater length than the front legs 17 and are adapted when the chair is set up, to be disposed at a rearward and downward inclination. In order to limit the rearward swinging movement of the rear legs 18, links 20 are pivotally connected at 21 to the rear legs and pivotally connected at the opposite ends on a transverse rod 22 extending between and anchored to the lower ends of the side flanges 12 of the back frame 10, the lower ends of the" rear inwardly extending flanges 11 having keeper notches 23 within which the links 20 are seated. In order to brace and hold the front legs 17 in position, a yoke 24 is fulcrumed on the cross rod 22'and has the free front edges of the side arms 25 pivotally attached at 26 to the front legs. The combined distance between the pivotal points 16 to 22 to 26 is equal to the combined distance between the ivotal points 16 to 19 to 26, so that when t e seat frame 13 is swung upwardly, the same will nest within the back frame while the leg 57 and 18 together with the links 20 and yoke 24 will nest partially within the seat frame and within the confines of the back frame. It thus followsthat the folded chair occupies only the amount of space required for the back frame 10. The legs 17 and 18 while illustrated as of angleconstruction in crosssection, need not necessarily be of this shape, but in practice the legs will be suitably braced by connecting cross braces 27 and 28. The seat frame 13 will preferably have the depending flange 15 formed witlran integral upwardly bent extension 29 which extension will have a laterally inwardly bent terminal flange 3O spaced from and parallel to the upper inwardly extending-flange 14. A seat composed of a base 31 having a covering layer 32 of leather or other suitable material between which a padding or cushionin substance 33 is arranged, is adapted to e inserted within the seat frame between the flanges 14 and 30 from the rear open end of the frame. The rear end of the seat will be provided with a U-shaped metallic clip 34, which is frict-ionall driven between the flanges 14 and to hold the same in place, thereby eliminating the use of rivets, welding, or other additional fastening means. The back frame bight 35 may, if desired, have arranged therein a padded or upholstered cross element 36, and said back frame may be further reinforced at a point hetween its juncture with the seat and its up per end, with a cross strip 37. The lower ends of the legs may be provided with suitable feet 38, if desired.

In order to provide means for locking the chair in an opened condition and to prevent any possibility of collapsing thereof, a latch in the form of a yoke or bail 39 is employed, the legs 40 of which are offset intermediate their length to provide locking shoulders 41. The free terminals of the legs are bent outwardly to provide trunnions 12 which are journaled in bearings 43 carried by the upper cross brace 28 of the legs 18. \Vhen in openedr condition the bail gravitates downwardly until the shoulders 41 engage behind the upper cross brace 27 of the front legs 17. In this position, the bight 44 of the bail is disposed in convenient relation to the front edge of the scat frame so that in folding the chair the bail is grasped and 10v '1 upwardly by the same hand which moves the scat frame to a folded relation.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding chair, including a back frame, a seat frame pivotally connected within the back frame for nesting therein, and front and rear legs pivotally connected to the-seatframe within the confines thereof for folding to a nested relation within the scat and back frames.

A folding chair, including aback frame, a seat frame pivotally connected within the back frame for nesting therein, front and rear logs pivotally connected to and within the confines of the seat frame for nesting within the seat and back frames, and connections between the legs and back frame, and disposed within the confines thereof for holding the chair in set-up condition.

3. A folding chair, includin g a back frame, a seat frame pivotally connected within the back frame. front and rear legs pivotally connected on. the inside of the scat frame for nesting of the seat frame and legs completely within the confines of the back frame when the chair is in folded condition, and connections between the legs and the back frame respectively for holding the chair in set-up condition.

4. A folding chair, including a back frame,

a seat frame pivotally connected within the back frame, front and rear legs pivotally connected on the inside of the seat frame for nesting of the seat frame and legs complete ly within. the confines of the back frame when the chair is in folded condition, and connections between the legs and the back frame respectively for holding the chair in set-up condition, said connections also nesting within the confines of the back fran'ic when the chair is folded.

5. In a folding chair,a back frame, a seat frame pivoted at its rear end within the back frame for folding to a nested posit-ion within the confines thereof, and front and rear supporting legs pivoted on alined axes to the forward inside portion of the seat frame for folding to a nested position partially within the confines of said seat frame and wholly within the confines of the back frame. I

6. In a folding chair, a back frame, a seat frame pivoted at its rear end within the back frame for folding to anested position within the confines thereof, front. and rear supporting legs pivoted on alined axes to the forward inside portion of the seat frame for folding to a nested position partially within the confines of said seat frame and wholly within the confines of the back' frame, and connections between the lower ends of the back frame and the front and rear legs respectively for supporting and bracing the chair when set up and for effecting move ments of the elements in unison.

7 In a folding chair, a back frame, a seat frame pivoted at its rear end within the back frame for folding to a nested position within the confines thereof, front and rear supporting legs pivoted on alined axes to the forward inside portion of the seat frame for folding to a nested position partially within the confines of said seat frame and wholly within the confines of the back frame, and connections between the lower ends of 8. In a folding chair, U-shaped back and seat frames, the latter having its free ends pivoted within the former at a point intermediate the bight and free ends thereof for folding of the latter to a nested position within the former, front and rear legs piv-. oted within the seat frame at a point adjacent the bight portion for folding to a nested position within the seat frame, said legs being of a length to be disposed within the confines of the back frame, and connections between the free ends of the back frame and the front and rear legs respectively.

9. A folding chair, including an inverted U-shaped back element fabricated of angle iron having inwardly extending rear flanges and forwardly extending side flanges, a U- shaped sea-t frame fabricated of angle iron having inwardly extending upper flanges and depending side flanges, the free rear ends of the depending side flanges of the seat frame disposed within the side flanges of the back element and pivotally connected therewith for folding movement of the seat frame to a nested position within the confines of the back element, a pair of front and rear legs pivoted on alined axes and disposed within the depending side flanges of the seat frame adjacent the forward portion thereof for folding movement to a nested osition with respect to the seat frame, t e said rear legs when the chair is set up extending rearwardly at an angle, and connections respectively between the lower ends of the back element side flanges and the front andrear legs for supporting and bracing the chair when in a set-up condition. v

10. A folding chair, including a back frame, a seat frame within the back frame, front and rear legs pivotally connected on the inside of the seat frame for nesting of the seat frame and legs completely within the confines 'of the back frame when the chair is in folded conditi on, connections between the legs and the back frame respectively for holding the chair in set-up condition, and means for locking the legs in opened condition to revent accidental collapsing of the chair w en set up.

11. In a folding chair,

aback frame, a seat frame pivoted at its rear end within the back frame for folding to a nested position within the confines thereof, front and rear supporting legs pivoted at alined axes to the forward portion and on the inside of the seat frame for folding to a nested position partially within the confines of the.

seat frame and wholly within the confines of the back frame," connections between the lower ends of the back-frame and the front and rear legs respectively for supporting and bracing the chair when set up, the front and rear legs having cross braces, and a lockingbail pivotally attached to the rear supporting legs and gravitationally engageable with the cross brace of the front sup porting legs for locking the chair in an opened set-up condition.

S'gned at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 28th day of October, A. D. 1927.

FINN SIMMONS.

pivotally connected 

